AT THEIR OWN RISK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 43, 21 February 1939, Page 10

AT THEIR OWN RISK

A.C. POWER CONSUMERS TAIHAPE BOROUGH COUNCIL DISCUSSION. (Own Correspondent.) TAIHAPE, Feb. 20. Considerable discussion took place at Friday’s meeting of the Taihape Borough Council regarding the 'question of supplying A.C. current to new consumers who desire to be connected up, when there is already a shortage of alternating current. The matter was raised when the Electric Light Committee recommended that the applications of Mr. F. H. Barton and the Taihape District High School for a supply of A.C. power to their premises in Kokako Street be granted subject to the cost of the necessary line being borne by the applicants. Cr. Loader expressed the opinion that i«n view of the fact those already on A.C. current could not get all the power they wanted it was not fair to them to grant further applications for alternating current. “Consumers were told two years ago that they could have A.C. power and if we find that we cannot supply them, we should tell the people so" remarked Cr. Loader. The Mayor: We cannot guarantee the efficiency of the supply because we have not sufficient A.C. to meet all requirements and we are only impairing the needs of those already on A.C. if we take on more consumers. Cr. Ryan: I was against A.C. on the hill. We cannot give the consumers more than we get from the Power Board, but if people want to go on to A.C. they will have to take what they can get. It should be made plain to them that they go on to A.C. at their own risk. The council cannot guarantee A.C. but we can guarantee D.C. current Cr. Loader: We must keep faith with the consumers. I don’t “gee" for my friends, but I say, why go on granting applications for A.C. power when there is already a shortage? A lady in Kaka Road asked for A.C. current and was told that she could not have it because there was a shortage. I will move that the clause in the Electric Light Committee’s report recommending that Mr. Barton and the school be granted a supply of A.C. current be stuck out until the council can obtain a further supply of A.C. power. Cr. McLaren seconded the motion pro forma. Cr. Robinson. How much is promised. The electrical engineer: The Power Board has promised us 100 K.V.A. but we are not using more than 65 K.V.A. at present, but we must have a margin to come and go on. If we went to 100 K.V.A. we would go over the load. Cr. Ryan: Has anyone gone short? The engineer: No, but we have had two complaints regarding the low voltage. The Mayor: If we grant more applications.* other consumers suffer in consequence as Cr. Loader has already pointed out. On being put to the meeting Cr. Loader’s motion was lost. (The clause recommending that the applications of Mr. Barton and the school be granted still stands).